topic Re: Wifi Calling in Get Support

Wifi Calling

mellobob — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 07:06:02 GMT

Thinking of switching ... but there is no cell service here at home (thanks Telus!). So, I'd like to use the wifi calling feature many newer phones have. Telus, Koodo, Virgin, etc. support this. I'm sort of thinking that since PM is really Telus it should work ... but I'd like confirmation first.

thanks.

Re: Wifi Calling

wetcoaster — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 23:44:13 GMT

@mellobob wrote:
Thinking of switching ... but there is no cell service here at home (thanks Telus!). So, I'd like to use the wifi calling feature many newer phones have. Telus, Koodo, Virgin, etc. support this. I'm sort of thinking that since PM is really Telus it should work ... but I'd like confirmation first.

thanks.

you will have to go with a first (Rogers, Bell, Telus) or second (Fido, Virgin, Koodo) tier provider if WiFi calling is essential. Public Mobile is "no-frills", so no WiFi calling or VoLTE.

Re: Wifi Calling

mellobob — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 23:51:33 GMT

Aw, that's too bad.

Re: Wifi Calling

wetcoaster — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 23:56:06 GMT

You could find a work-around with a VOIP service like fongo on a data-only plan, using it over WiFi if you are not in cell phone range. However, stand-alone data is not really competetively priced here at Public Mobile, best deals are always talk, text and data combined.

Re: Wifi Calling

mellobob — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 00:08:09 GMT

The 4.5 gig / unlimited talk for $40 sounds pretty good to me (for a Canada plan 🙂 ).

I have thought about the 3rd party apps like fongo, etc. but none would give me a local phone number ... so, I'd have to get folks to call to use LD ... it gets so complicated 🙂

Re: Wifi Calling

wetcoaster — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 00:34:35 GMT

@mellobob wrote:
The 4.5 gig / unlimited talk for $40 sounds pretty good to me (for a Canada plan 🙂 ).

I have thought about the 3rd party apps like fongo, etc. but none would give me a local phone number ... so, I'd have to get folks to call to use LD ... it gets so complicated 🙂

Yes, making use of WiFi calling seems to be the best option, unfortunately it comes at the cost of using a carrier in a higher price bracket.

There would be a way to keep your local number (assuming you have one, considering that you have no service at home that might not be the case)

https://support.fongo.com/hc/en-us/articles/212436106-Keep-your-current-phone-number-porting-mobile-accounts

One other thing to throw into the mix: there have been a couple of sweet Public Mobile-to-Koodo migration offers this year, most of them offered to targeted users of plans in the $40 range and all of them now expired... There are no guaranties that there are more migration offers or that they would target the same audience, but some people feel like playing this particular lottery...

Re: Wifi Calling

mellobob — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 00:36:18 GMT

Thanks for all the info.

Just to clearify ...

- I have a telus landline. I think I'm going to need to keep that. But, I'm not in love with it 🙂

- I have a couple of pre-pay cell phones (one for me and one for my wife). This all works okay and cheaply. No problems ... except that they don't work around my house. And, when I need data, the pre-pays are really costly.

- I have used google hangouts to place lots of calls. Can't get cheaper than free, and it works fine. But, the negative here is that I can't get a number.

- Just checked the fongo page you linked. Reads great until you access the list of areas than can port numbers. Ahhh, nothing around here.

- I can get some connection at the house, but even on the roof it is very poor. I've been advised by some fellows who install these not to waste money on a booster since it would end up having to boost junky signals. And I'd be unhappy.

So ... I figured an easy solution would be the new-fangled wifi calling option. Of course, I'd need to get new phones for that 🙂 And a carrier that supports it. All quite confusing 🙂

Re: Wifi Calling

wetcoaster — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 00:56:29 GMT

@mellobob wrote:
Thanks for all the info.

Just to clearify ...

- I have a telus landline. I think I'm going to need to keep that. But, I'm not in love with it 🙂

- I have a couple of pre-pay cell phones (one for me and one for my wife). This all works okay and cheaply. No problems ... except that they don't work around my house. And, when I need data, the pre-pays are really costly.

- I have used google hangouts to place lots of calls. Can't get cheaper than free, and it works fine. But, the negative here is that I can't get a number.

- Just checked the fongo page you linked. Reads great until you access the list of areas than can port numbers. Ahhh, nothing around here.

- I can get some connection at the house, but even on the roof it is very poor. I've been advised by some fellows who install these not to waste money on a booster since it would end up having to boost junky signals. And I'd be unhappy.

So ... I figured an easy solution would be the new-fangled wifi calling option. Of course, I'd need to get new phones for that 🙂 And a carrier that supports it. All quite confusing 🙂

Who is your prepaid provider?

And I agree... that fongo list is a bit funky. No rhyme or reason...

Re: Wifi Calling

mellobob — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 01:32:30 GMT

>> Who is your prepaid provider?

I'm with pcmobile for now. I think I'm going to go for the advertised plan here for at least one phone ... we were on an extended trip last week and having data in car was very additive (we'd gotten a small bucket of data for the wife).

And, who knows ... the owners of this service (yeah, I know it's telus) might make me an offer I can't refuse 🙂

Re: Wifi Calling

krazykiwi — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 01:33:01 GMT

@mellobob wrote:
Thanks for all the info.

Just to clearify ...

- I have a telus landline. I think I'm going to need to keep that. But, I'm not in love with it 🙂

- I have a couple of pre-pay cell phones (one for me and one for my wife). This all works okay and cheaply. No problems ... except that they don't work around my house. And, when I need data, the pre-pays are really costly.

- I have used google hangouts to place lots of calls. Can't get cheaper than free, and it works fine. But, the negative here is that I can't get a number.

- Just checked the fongo page you linked. Reads great until you access the list of areas than can port numbers. Ahhh, nothing around here.

- I can get some connection at the house, but even on the roof it is very poor. I've been advised by some fellows who install these not to waste money on a booster since it would end up having to boost junky signals. And I'd be unhappy.

So ... I figured an easy solution would be the new-fangled wifi calling option. Of course, I'd need to get new phones for that 🙂 And a carrier that supports it. All quite confusing 🙂

PM does not support WIFI Calling but you could use another app, (Whatsapp, Textnow), that works the same way and needs all rhe same stuff? Or am I missing what you are trying to do?

Re: Wifi Calling

mellobob — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 01:45:12 GMT

PM does not support WIFI Calling but you could use another app, (Whatsapp, Textnow), that works the same way and needs all rhe same stuff? Or am I missing what you are trying to do?

Yeah, I think you might be missing my point 🙂 I would like to use one phone number so that if I'm out or at home people can call me. Cell works for lots of folk, but no cell service at home. So, the wifi calling feature looks cool.

I could give out my fongo number (I think textnow is us only), but they don't have local (for me) numbers.

Re: Wifi Calling

bryclops — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 01:52:12 GMT

Depending if you have unlimited minutes with Public Mobile, you could always forward your number to Fongo when you are at home.

Re: Wifi Calling

krazykiwi — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 01:54:06 GMT

@mellobob

Textnow works perfectly fine in Northern Alberta, and I picked an area code form here.

But I see, you want to use Wifi when you are at home but for the same app to use celluar network while you are able to.

Re: Wifi Calling

mellobob — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 02:04:37 GMT

Okay, cool on forwarding the number fongo. I guess I could leave it that way all the time since I would have a lot of data. Do you think that the forward would work even if my community is not on the list on the fongo site?

Re: Wifi Calling

mellobob — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 02:05:44 GMT

I'll just subscribe for now ... worry about textnow, fongo, etc. once I can find a 12 year old to explain it all to me 🙂

Thanks.

Re: Wifi Calling

bryclops — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 02:20:04 GMT

With Public Mobile you should be able to forward your number to any Canadian number, so yes you can forward it to your Canadian Fongo number.

Re: Wifi Calling

mellobob — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 02:31:34 GMT

Sounds great. I placed an order for a SIM card earlier today. Don't know how long Canada Post will want to store it ... but I should be able to activate it next week. Just hope the unlimited/4.5 gig plan is still available then 🙂

Re: Wifi Calling

will13am — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 02:38:27 GMT

@mellobob wrote:
Sounds great. I placed an order for a SIM card earlier today. Don't know how long Canada Post will want to store it ... but I should be able to activate it next week. Just hope the unlimited/4.5 gig plan is still available then 🙂

@mellobob, this plan has been around at this price for some time. Unless the competition raises their price, Public Mobile will not do so either. You mentioned using PC mobile for prepaid. That is the same Bellus network that Public Mobile runs on. I don't think you are going to get any real difference in coverage.

Re: Wifi Calling

mellobob — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 02:45:16 GMT

Thanks. I understand it's the same network. Just need a decent voice/data plan. The $40/month will suit me fine. Just a pity about the no wifi calling ... but it saves me having to get a new phone (that's actually sad, but don't tell my wife!).

Re: Wifi Calling

donm — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 02:08:50 GMT

Skype